Obama and Islam: An Interesting Pattern, If True

Reading up on some of the Libyan stuff and noticed a bit of a patter of Pres. Obama

Afghanistan: Muslim fighters are fighting against non-Muslims. Obama wants to pull out. (He hasn't, yet, but he's working for it).

Iraq: Secular government deposed under Bush. Current government might be heading in the direction of a Muslim theocracy, depending on the situation. Obama is supportive.

Iran: "Secular" populace rises up in protest against a Theocratic government of Extremist Muslims and demand Democratic government. Obama does nothing to aid the protesters, merely gives a few non-committal statements and waits. Protesters are then crushed.

Egypt: Protesters, who are generally either Muslim or backed by Muslim groups, rise against a "Secular" government and demand the right to democratically chose their own government. Obama is supportive and acts moderately to help. Incidents that might paint the protesters in a bad light are covered up. (Except for the female report who was sexually assaulted and likely raped, confirmation on the last is sketchy).

Libya: Muslim Rebels (backed by our friends under Bin Laden and his little group, no joke) rise up against "Secular" government. Obama not only supports, but sends military units to aid.

I think I'm starting to see a pattern here, and it's not one this Heathen is exactly comfortable with. Should a few more of these happen, we will know for sure.

Some Words in the Days After

This is a re-post of my comment from here I can’t get there from here

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Cara, I am deeply sorry and saddened by your loss. No words, by man or god, could give comfort to it.

I too, noticed that much of the Pagan blogs were very much "move on, release your grief, find coexistence and peace" in their treatment.I am sorry to say I was little better in my short post, but I felt the day needed silence, not words of war.

Yet, it seems for all the pretty words, nothing has really changed.

I am sure that if I have a reputation in the Pagan blogs by now, it is not a pretty one. I am often outspoken against Islam and am not one for pulling metaphorical punches. Ali here I am sure isn't to fond of me, and I'm still trying to figure out if Ali is Pagan or Muslim, because honestly it is hard to tell so deeply does Ali defend Islam and hold it high. Yet, it matters little to me which Gods, if any Ali worships.

I think the reason many people from all walks of life and religions, myself included, are against Islam is because even if it wasn't "Islam attacking America" it was still done in the name of Islam. Just as the Crusades and Witchhunts were done in the name of Christianity, I believe there is a desire to see Islam weakened to the point where it can no longer offer that violence, just as Christianity can no longer offer totalitarian violence agianst those who do not worship Christ. I am sure there are some who will disagree, who will say that those opposed to Islam are "Islamophobic" and "racist bigots" but I think that is disrespectful to all sides.

Linda says the mosque *needs* to go up now so that we can heal. But I fail to see how it is healing. There are those who say it is a symbol of Islam's victory, and there are Muslims who no doubt see it as such. Indeed, the very size of the community center does seem rather much. Were it four stories, I doubt we'd see much protest. Were it two, few words would be spoken. But to be over ten stories and to stand taller than most buildings around it strikes me as a little much. I have heard rumors that the top floors were the "prayer center" is to be located will have a clear view of the WTC site. I do not doubt that there are misguided individuals on both sides of the fight, but there are those with clear and just reasons for their stances. Linda, your call for tolerance is noble, but your application is intolerant. You suggest the Mosque is a salve to heal a wound, but even to me, one who lost little in comparison on that day, it feels of salt to that wound.

One thing I have noticed about Pagans is the insistence on tolerance and peace. These are noble ideals, to be sure, but I would say to all Pagans and Heathens, that ours is a world of many faces and natures. It is the nature of people to day to desire peace, to want it above all else, and many are willing to give anything so that they do not have to face the ugly side of life. But Paganism/Heathenism to me is as much about the ugly side of life as it is the pretty. It is, in Nietzsche's words "The Dionysian and the Apollonian." It is terror and beauty, emotions and reason, the bestial and the divine, all at once. I think we are missing a key element when it comes to the healing of the 9/11 Tragedy. One which I see at least, being an Asatruar, though I can speak for no others.

There was no were-geld paid to the victims families.

We have fought wars for nine years almost, but we have not gained any vengeance. Those who did the killings died in the same blast. Those who planned the murders have escaped all justice, and those that are "captured" languish in "prisons" that by all accounts are not dens of terror, pain, suffering, and retribution. There has been little accounting done for the deeds of that terrible day. People like to say that vengeance and retribution don't solve anything, that it just begets more of the same, but I disagree.

We Pagans/Heathens have many gods and goddess who exist either as representations, physical beings, or however you choice to view them. Yet we believe they exist and that they each have a purpose or job at which they perform, from which their power is drawn, and that power which they create.

We have gods and goddesses of love and desire, which I often see invoked.

We have gods and goddesses of fertility and the harvest, which I often see called upon.

But we also have gods and goddesses of War and Vengeance. These, I do not see invoked, or called upon.

I see many pagans willing to reach out beyond our pantheons and call upon Shinto and Buddhist deities, desiring peace and serenity. But where are the Pagans/Heathens calling upon our own divinities for righteous vengeance against those who slew kin and friend and hero that day? If I see someone call upon Odin, it is for wisdom in dealing with their hatred and removing it, not invoking him as the Terrible One, God of War. I have seen none call upon Aries, who clothes his bed in the skin of those he's killed, for retribution against those Terrorists who kill in the name of Allah. I see no one crying out to Thor, killer of Giants, to bring might Mjolnir down upon the God of Mohamed.

It is likely that I will have drawn much hate with these words. Perhaps I violate the spirit of this article as badly as I feel Linda and Ali have done. If so, I am sorry.

But looking at it, I see in the Pagan community people who are uncomfortable with who they really are. People who are so eager not to be "intolerant" that they willingly put up with things I would think intolerable. Pagan who look at Muslim women who are so bundled in fabric that their faces barely show and proclaim "Oh, she is so modest, how holy and admirable is that." They never stop to think that the woman is modest because her religion teaches that the mere sight such things as her hair will arouse men so much that they would rape uncontrollably, or that women are second class beings because Eve tempted Adam in the Garden and thus caused him to fall from grace, nor that a woman is counted as worth half a man in the courts of Islam, or that she must prove her innocence in a rape case with either four male witnesses or eight female witnesses. And would likely be charged with worse crimes for having performed sexual acts in front of so many people.

Little concern is given that in the ancient Pagan/Heathen world, the human body, male and female, was a thing to be shown of with pride as a vessel of Sacred Power and divinity, that to show off that form was considered desirable, and that to cover it was to deny and defame that sacred beauty that is the Human Form.

If my words seem angry, it is because I am angry. I am angry because there has been no vengeance for the fallen. I am angry because all I see are platitudes to an Ideology that supports misogyny, homophobia, paganophobia, and speaks of peace while doing nothing to stop the violence of its radicals. I am angry because all I see from those screaming for tolerance is intolerance to those who do not share their views. I see Muslims screaming about oppression and intolerance, yet who show little tolerance towards the victims in this Mosque building.

Yes, there were Muslims who died at the WTC, but too often I see those Muslim victims paraded out as a reason to let Muslims build, pray, and act as they please in regards to 9/11. Yet I rarely see anyone say fair number of those Muslims who died at the WTC were the ones flying the planes. Perhaps my emotions have gotten the best of me. Perhaps pain and fear and anger push me too far for today's world. But I do not live by the standards of "today's world." I live by the standards of my ancestors and my gods and goddesses. Perhaps hearing the GZM Imam say things like "America has more Innocent Muslim blood on its hands than Al Qaeda has the blood of Innocent Non-Muslims" has roused my temper. Yet I am caused to remember that just as according to Christians "all are guilty of sin who have not accepted Christ", so to is it for Muslims that "All are guilty of sin who have not submitted to the Will of Allah." That to Muslims there is no such thing as an "innocent non-Muslim" because we are "guilty of sin," while every Muslim is cleansed of there Sins by "Submission to Allah."

Perhaps I am wrong, to call upon the gods and goddesses of war, with a desire to see those who would kill us, be they "radical" or not, driven away at the end of divine wrath. But I am a heathen, and if it was good enough for my ancestors, it is good enough for me.

Cara, again I give my sympathy, and hope that the gods and goddesses of the afterlife, bring peace and comfort to your friend. I am sorry, if my comments have got to far for you. I have no desire to try and hijack your sacred words nor your sacred grief.

The Mouse that Roared at Lions

Of all the things I've written on Blogger, this is the one that will probably cause me the most trouble. However, I had always sought to be honest about my views. So, I will be honest.

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the Florida Church burning the Koran on 9/11, which is just a few days away. Well, perhaps that is wrong, as controversy implies that there are two side fighting over something, while world wide all I have really seen is mass condemnations. The Pastor has been labels a Hater and it is said that his proposed deed is one of hate. Indeed, this may be reasonable. The interviews I've seen haven't revealed to me a man driven mad with hatred like so many accuse, but they are short clips chosen to support the views of various people, and without meeting this man in person, I cannot say for sure the nature of his mentality.

But I can make a judgment about his character.

He is no coward.

In the face of condemnations, death threats, the potential uprising of roughly 1.5 billion Muslims, and the general disgust of the entire world, this man stands firm in his beliefs and is not swayed from his course. Now, will this hold out through the burning of the Koran, I cannot say. We will not know until after 9/11. But to have lasted this long at all is impressive.

I believe it is well known at this point that I am a Germanic Heathen, namely Asatru. I do not speak for any organizations, nor for other followers of the Pagan and Heathen Paths. I have a very different perspective on things than most people because of this. I reject a good/evil moral dichotomy. If there are any dichotomies in my life's path, it is that of Order/Chaos or Honorable/Shameful. So looking at the objections to this Pastor's actions, I judge by my way, and not the way of mainstream society.

People say that this action is inspired by Hate, and thus it is bad. Perhaps for the Christians, hate is evil, but nothing in any records of the Heathen Norse did Hate come across as evil. Rather, justified hate was viewed as a good thing. So simply because this man hates is not reason enough for me to condemn him. Indeed, Hate was once as valued as Love. In Paganism/Heathenism we attempt to restore the balance of the world. To reject hate is Christian. This viewing of Hatred and Violence as evil that the Western world has now is at odds with the rest of the world's views. It is certainly at odds with the views of my ancient ancestors, and myself.

People say that burning books is evil and shameful, often throwing images of the Nazi's book burning. Again, I reject the notion of evil, as it does not really exist in my religious beliefs. However, Shame does, so it does hold merit. But permit me to judge the shamefulness of this action. It is not good to burn books. (Though, if one is to belief Dolf in the Expendables, "It is good to hang pirates"). I will agree that it is shameful to burn books, but what of the motive behind the burning of the book. Is it too, shameful? If this Pastor Terry Jones is to be believed, he is burning the Koran to send a message to Radical Islam.

Now, he has not to my knowledge defined what he views as Radical Islam. It could be just those Terrorists who attack in the name of Islam. It could be the larger Islamic community. I cannot answer this.

So, what is this message of Hate that he is sending out? Well, to this simple Heathen, it comes across as "You burn our people, we burn your book." "That it is time to confront terrorism. That we do not want Shariah Law." Now, I could be wrong about this, but that is the impression I've gotten both from him and from others commenting about him.

So, is this a shameful message? Certainly, many seem to view it as such. The controversy of the Park 51/Ground Zero Mosque has painted a picture that protests against Islam are all hateful and racist. Yet, I cannot help but remember back when the Twin Towers were struck down in the name of Allah, that much of America wanted not only to go get revenge, but wanted to blow up the holy centers of Islam. Such things were not viewed as shameful then. Did something change when I wasn't looking? More than likely. Whether this is good or not, I cannot say. I, however, do not consider it shameful to tell a group of people that commit mass murder in the name of their god to knock it off. Are there better methods than burning the holy book of that group? Probably.

But what other methods are there? Talking certainly doesn't seem to have helped. Going to war, too, has not brought the results hoped when we first sent soldiers overseas. I think that what this Pastor and his tiny church are doing is done because they feel powerless against a monolithic, violent enemy that their government has failed to do much of anything against. So, they are taking what power they can, glaring into the face of the enemy they see, and mocking it.

But they are not killing anyone. They are not advocating violence. At least, not that I have seen.

The same cannot be said for the rest of the world. Already much of the Islamic world is in a riot. America has set its embassies on high alert. People are saying that our troops will be in more danger (though I find this rather hard to believe because they are already in a war zone and therefore not in a safe place to start with).

In many ways, I have to laugh at some of the things people are trying to do to stop this. As I write, MSNBC started digging and implying that the Church involved is, in fact, a Cult. A great way for character assassination, but even if they succeed in defaming the Pastor's message, it has proven useless in stopping the proposed burning. They are also reporting that Terry Jones, the Pastor, will stop if called by the White House, Pentagon, Etc. Perhaps this is true. Perhaps he is just playing for time. Much is unknown.

What stands to happen though, is known. Should the Koran be burned, there will be a violent reaction across the world. Many are desperate to stop it, yet many question why the President doesn't step up more to stop it. It is hard to say. This is more than a religious statement by a Pastor of a tiny church. This is world wide politics.

Ultimately, true answers will not be known until after 9/11. Indeed, I suspect there will be violence this September 11th. In addition to the Koran burning, two protests about the Park 51/Ground Zero Mosque, both for and against. Should the Koran be burned, we will see riots. If those riots break out at the Mosque protest, I do wonder what will happen.

I can't say I completely agree with Pastor Terry Jones. I dislike Christianity as much as I dislike Islam. But I don't have to agree with a person to admire courage, which he appears to have in spades. If this was a mere publicity stunt, he could have gotten as much attention without the danger. The fact that he's earned himself a death sentience, especially if he does burn the Koran, speaks to something larger. He says his god is telling him to do this. I am not one to say this isn't true. While the Secular world may sneer, but as a Heathen I live with my gods and goddesses and in a way, from the stories of them and my own impressions I too hear their words.

So, irregardless of hatred or insanity, I admire the tiny Christian mouse that is roaring at the lions of this world.

Heathens and Pagans and Muslims and Mosques, Oh My!

So, over the last few days, I've managed to find my way into a small section of the Pagan blogs, mainly due to some articles about the Ground Zero Mosque, known also as the Cordoba Mosque or Part 51. What I found there was not what I was expecting, though hardly surprising when one thinks about it.

It seems that there is a mixed reception towards the protests towards the mosque/community center.

On one side you have those Pagans who fear that this is an attack on freedom of religion and fear that the oppression of the Islamic minority in the US will soon turn against the Pagan Minority. These are justified fears, though I fear I detected more parroting of "liberal" party lines than I would have liked. It seems that those Pagans which hold this line are letting fear of a Christian majority blind them to just what Islam is. In some cases, they are far too eager to throw terms like racist and bigot at those that oppose the Mosque or Islam in general. Others, however keep a clear head and I will agree that they have a valid point. Some feel that the issue of the Mosque is a test case for minority religious rights. I personally don't see it as such. If it was a Pagan Temple, or Native American equivalent, or some other globally small and polytheistic religion, I would agree it as a test case for Pagan rights, but not with the size Islam is world wide.

On the another side, you have those Pagans that are opposed to the Mosque or Islam. They too, fear a hindrance on religious freedom, but are willing to question the end goals of Islam and those behind the mosque. They, myself included, argue that protesting or questioning the mosque is also a basic right, and something that should be done. They point out, correctly, that many of those protesting the mosque are doing so not because they wish to ban Islam, but because the victims families feel this is an insult to their dead. In this too, there are valid points.

Then there are those who seek to remain neutral. I too, fell into this category. This simple fact of the matter is, this is really isn't an issue that pertains to us Pagans and Heathens. We aren't going to worship there. We probably won't even be welcome inside. We can't even really say its an issue of minority vs majority, since Islam is the second biggest religion in the world, with over 1 billion followers. Christianity only has a few million more, and Muslims appear to be more devout than most Christians on average. Yes, Muslims are a minority here in America at the moment, but it is impossible to know how long that will last and looking at Europe will show that even a Minority of Muslims can wield great and terrible power for enforcing their beliefs on non-believers. Which leads to the question those Neutral Pagans I've come across are asking: What is the position of Islam on Paganism, especially those who are behind the Park 51/Cordoba/Ground Zero Mosque.

Well, thanks to a bit of research and to sites by the name of Gates of Vienna, I have the answer to that question. The Imam behind the Mosque is a proponent of Shariah Law, the Islamic Holy law. Some things to know about Shariah is that it is as valid today to Muslims as the Torah is to Orthodox Jews. The main difference is that where the Torah applies only to the Jews, Shariah applies to both Muslims and to non-Muslims (at least according to Muslims, anyways). So what does Shariah Law say about Pagans. Well, not a lot, and none of it is good. For instance, non-Muslims, esp pagans, are the descendants of pigs and monkeys. Though, perhaps the most relevant, and terrible part regarding Paganism, is a from the Quran, which is part of the basis behind Shariah and one of the holiest books to Islam. This section is known as the Verse of the Sword, 9:5

But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.


The forbidden months refer to a peace treaty or a holy time for Muslims. After that time, it is commanded to do as the Quran commands until the Pagans repent (Convert) and take up the Five Pillars of Islam. Also of note, Charity in this case is Islamic Charity, which according to research is called Zakat, and may only be given to Muslims and a percentage of which must be given to those carrying out the task of spreading Islam to the world (jihad) through either violent means like those of terrorists, or non-violent means like the Mosque/Community center. It is also important to note that these are major tenants of the religion, and to change it is not permitted and punishable by death if such changes are made.

This is also something I found in relation to the above text: The venerated Muslim scholar Ibn Kathir wrote that

This honorable Ayah (9:5) was called the Ayah of the Sword, about which Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim said, "It abrogated every agreement of peace between the Prophet and any idolator, every treaty, and every term.'' Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas commented: "No idolator had any more treaty or promise of safety ever since Surah Bara'ah was revealed. ...

In other words, no peace may be made with Idolaters and Pagans.

Another Key thing of importance is that under Shariah law, as well as the holy texts of Islam, it is considered acceptable to lie to Non-Muslims in the course of advancing the cause of Islam. That is no lie. It seems incomprehensible, both because for Pagans and Heathens, our word is a sacred oath and because for Christians and Jews lying is evil and they are always to speak the truth. Indeed, every major and minor religion in the world stresses the importance of being truthful, yet Islam does not. This is because in Islam, it is the only true religion and therefore all other religions not only do not have the right to exist, they don't even matter enough to be truthful with. They deserve whatever happens to them in the course of Islam gaining the Submission of the entire world in the name of Allah. In the end, this hurts Muslims, because it destroys the sacred trust of the Oath. Even if a Muslim was to swear before Allah he had not problems with Pagans, even should he be telling the truth, the Pagan can never be sure, because there is always the chance said Muslim is lying.

My heart is filled with sorrow at this. It is the right of all peoples to worship the gods of their choice. Yet this sacred right is disrupted by those who seek supremacy. Even if only one Muslim in a thousand wished for supremacy and all others wished for peace, there would still be enough to move to make Islam supreme and destroy all others. Sadly, a look in the newspapers, on television, or across the internet shows that the odds aren't even that good.

I'm not saying that Pagans should jump on the bandwagon opposing the Mosque. I'm not saying we should even push the bandwagon for supporting. What I'm saying is that we as a group, must move forward and research for ourselves those behind this Mosque, and the truth behind Islam itself. We have to move beyond words of hate, of racist and bigot. Both sides of this argument have noble and ignoble goals. We Pagans have learned hard the lessons of intolerance and bigotry at the hands of the Christians. I do not want to see us be taught that lesson again at the hands of the Muslims, should they want to teach it, which it seems many of them do. We must look past the races of those involved, and look to their ideas. Those who oppose this mosque have just as much right to their protests as those supporting have a right to support. We can't say yet that this is about Religious freedom, because as much as the Christians don't want the other religions, the Muslims don't want any other religions either.

We Pagans are caught in the middle, and we would do well to look at the Jews, who also have a long history of being caught in the middle. We have to be careful, and look out for ourselves. The Muslims have the numbers to protect their own. The Christians have the numbers to protect their own. We might not even have the numbers to protect ourselves, so we must be careful. That is why I am no longer neutral, because I feel we as Pagans and Heathens don't have that luxury. We must choose our path carefully, and our allies even more so.

What Fools these Mortals Be

I am not one for watching MSNBC. It's not because I disagree with their politics (which I do), but because of their attitudes. Rare is it that they show any respect for a view point other than their own. I talked about strawmen in my previous post, and how most people set them up as targets. Well, MSNBC sets them up as targets, and then burns them.

Interestingly enough, I used the verb burn, and it pertains to what I have seen.

Keith Olberman has made some comments about the Ground Zero Mosque. Comments that he has the right to say, but that he really, really should have thought about before he said them.

Watch at your own risk.



Keith starts out quoting a famous speech by a Nazi Death Camp survivor, who talked about how he didn't complain when the Nazis took various different people; communists, unionists, Jews, and then had no one to complain when he was taken. Then Keith turns around and says he isn't comparing the protests against the GZM (which according to him isn't a "Ground Zero Mosque") to the Holocaust. "Not yet, anyways."

Really Keith? Really? You're not doing that in the slightest?

He then continues on in the clip about how it isn't a Mosque, as a Mosque is only for Muslims to pray in, and this will have a culinary school and basketball court, and those who are decrying it as a terrorist training camp are being foolish and fearing terrorist chefs and terrorist point guards. Apparently, Keith has never paid attention to an outbreak of food poisoning from a restaurant. Chefs are strategic choice, if one thinks about it, but I digress. It isn't for training terrorists, there aren't any, and it isn't an insult to the victims' families.

Funny, those families looked pretty insulted to me.

Keith then goes on to talk about how a Mosque down in Jacksonville, FL, was bombed. No one was hurt, the bomber unidentified. You didn't hear about it on the news. Which is funny, because I thought I had heard about it on the news, but maybe I read it on the Web. Which, as we all know, isn't "The News."

Keith's point, that he spells out literally? Muslims have more to fear from Americans, and have suffered more at the hands of Americans since 9/11, than non-Muslims have suffered from Muslims. That's right, they aren't the terrorists. You are.

Again, REALLY? I guess that little Christmas day thing that fizzled out was, you know, a practical joke. Maybe Ft. Hood was, you know, a comedy routine? Funny.

And then he attacks those who say Cordoba House is a reference to the Muslim conquest of Spain. He brings up Newt Gingrich's quote, then proceeds to talk about how all the Muslims did was set up "Multicultural, nondenominational learning centers" but were constantly under attack from "Christian Armies" and internal civil wars. Well, Keith, let me stop you there with my history degree. You got the history wrong. Sorry. But Islam wasn't all Multicultural. Not at all, they were actually pretty hostile to Christians and Jews. Those Civil Wars were when other Muslims thought the current Invading Muslims Weren't Being Strict Enough About Islam! That's right, fundamentalists(and it is a historically proven fact that they were fundamentalists) were invaded and replaced by other more extreme Fundamentalists, for not be fundamental enough. And those Evil Christians who dared strike against the Utopian Muslim Multicultural society, well, starting off they were just defending themselves, and then trying to push invaders off their lands. A feat that wasn't accomplished until right about 1942, if I remember correctly.

That's right kids, the thing you didn't learn in your history books. Ferdinand and Isabella were the King and Queen of two different Iberian countries that joined together in marriage so they would be strong enough to push Muslim Invaders out of their lands, then they sent Columbus out on a fool's dream of finding India. Why? Because they needed the money such trade would bring, and because it would remove the Muslim Middle Men that were making such trade with the Far East so expensive and dangerous.

He lashes against Newt's proclaiming the GZM a mark of Islamic Triumph, by saying that every Church, Synagogue, and Mosque is a mark of Triumphalism over the Native Americans whose culture and religion was destroyed by "Us." As for compromise on the part of Park 51, well they changed the name to that from Cordoba House, which, according to Keith, is more than enough. (Funny, struck me as more like they got caught and had to think fast.) And apparently the fact that two Churches are there is enough to counterbalance the fact that the Mosque is very close buy. The view will be blocked. But somehow I think the "Call to Prayer" will still be heard.

He then goes on to rant about the Iraq invasion and how it is a Muslim nation and all we sacrificed to "free" Muslims, but then we dare stand against the building of a "Community Center." I will not go in to his rants against "Xenophobia" and how we are turning against American values to enforce it.

He then goes on to compare it to the Holocaust again.

I find myself at a loss for words. Sure, it is the same tripe used often by those people declare to be on "The Left." Americans are the bad guys, protesting this is racist, we are the real terrorists, the real murders, the real evil. Somehow, ignoring the cries of victims families is okay, even laudable, in the name of tolerance. But I see little toleration here. Keith doesn't seem to be tolerating people who feel this "Cultural Center" is a bad idea. He says he feels for their pain, but then why does he turn around and treat them like they are the forefront of a movement that will lead to Death Camps, Holocausts, and ethnic cleansing? To be honest, Muslims are the ones who are performing those actions today, not Americans. Most people aren't even saying this Center can't be built, or that it is illegal to do so. All they are saying is that it should be built elsewhere, not two blocks away where 13 stories dedicated to "enlightening" New York about Islam, being headed by a man who it seems is fairly radical and is getting the backing of even more radical Muslims, where no doubt radical ideas, or even basic, fundamental ideas of what Islam means will be taught.

Ideas like the fact that non-believers are the descendants of pigs and monkeys. That Christians and Jews are second class people. That Pagans and Heathens should be converted or killed. That women are evil, and responsible for the suffering of men and must be treated worse than animals.

But it we who protest that are the monsters, the racists, the evil fiends. Muslims just want to be our friends. They want peace. They want hugs and not to be oppressed by Evil Whitey. Funny, considering Islam is one of the biggest religions in the world, as well as the least tolerant, not just in the barbaric past, but in the Enlightened Modern Era.

I would encourage Keith to take a second, maybe even a third look at what he is talking about. Because this time, just maybe, the fears of those he is demeaning, might actually be based on reality.

Keith started by quoting a man who wished he had spoken up before the Nazis came for him. So I close with much the same. I will speak up. Before they come for the peoples of America, before they come for the Jews, the Christians, the Atheists, and the Pagans, I will speak up.

These are my words. Let all Gods and Men hear them, and grow bold in heart and deed.

Strawman has a point

When I was a child, I lived in a very black and white world. Most kids do, or at least they did, so this isn’t surprising. My home life was very sheltered, going for years without a television and the only music I was really allowed to listen to was classical (which led, in addition to a decade and a half of classical music lessons to a deep hatred of classical music, something I now regret but cannot overcome). No comic books, no toy weapons (even the tiny toy guns in my LEGOs were taken away), no cartoons, no magic of any kind, etc. It was, as I look back on it, a life lived under a moral guardian with the best of intentions and all the love in the world. It was my life and I knew no other.

Yet the years have passed and my life took turns I never thought it could, much less would. I stopped seeing the world in black and white. Mostly, it went black. I am not ashamed to admit I went completely and utterly to that which many call the Dark Side, a place where only the ruthless and the strong survive, where living with regrets is a sure way to end up dead or in a mental hospital, doped up on meds and barely able to function. There are many, many people who walk that path and lose control to the awesome and terrible powers that lie on the edge of that blade, which would as soon cut you as serve you. I didn’t fall into the darkness, I threw myself there, body and soul, knowing that when I came out the other end, I would be a stronger person than anyone else I had ever met.

One learns many things on the other side, that side that many touch and many more are touched by. People learn things from the Dark Side, especially those who are touched by it, but what they learn is rarely that which someone who has stepped over learns. A person touched by violence often sees it as bad and something to be eradicated, while the person who lives violence sees it only as an expression of power that is valuable and irreplaceable. Those who live in the Light world see things in terms of good and evil, while those in the Dark see things in terms of good and bad for themselves.

One of the things that has happened to me personally, having not just touched that Dark world, but lived and embraced it before I journeyed on to the Asatru way of life (one that I understand in fair better ways thanks to my journey through the Dark), is that I tend to identify and understand the villains better than most people. Chris Jericho is one of my favorite wrestlers, and I agree with many of his statements about the fans of wrestling and about John Cena. Darth Vader’s decent to the Dark Side is one of the most compelling I’ve ever seen, and despite the fan hate, episodes II and III are my favorite out of the entire Star Wars saga.

So when it comes to something known as a Strawman, I tend to listen. Strawmen, for those who don’t know, are individuals in various media who are created and used solely for the purpose of degrading and demeaning the opposing side’s views. Watch Stewart or Colbert, and you can spot an entire field of them. Fox News has them, but not quite the crops that CNN, MSNBC, and others do.

So what do the Dark Side, my affinity for villains, and strawmen have in common? Well, it leads to a certain skill that I can’t claim a monopoly too, but have something of an affinity and enjoyments of: Strawman has a point.

This typically means that the being set up to be the bad guy, the extremist, the antagonist, or what have you, actually makes sense. Sometimes more sense than the supposed hero. Those who oppose the “Forces of Light” are in fact the ones who have a more correct world view. I can draw personal history on this myself, with my Norse ancestors, who from the perspective of Christian Europe, were unwashed heathen monsters that slew, raped, and stole, yet were in reality, more a people who saw their lives and culture threatened by a monolithic force that saw them as evil.

Though, perhaps I can provide a slightly less personal example that more people might agree with. I’m going to assume that those reading this have also read the Harry Potter series, so my example with come from there. Most people who have read those books know of the four houses at Hogwarts, and my example comes from Slytherin, namely the founder of that house who felt that the school should be only for those students of pure wizard bloodlines and not open to students from non-wizard back grounds. This view is embraced by most students who live in Slytherin house. In the books, this is often used to show how bad the “racist” Slytherin students like Draco Malfoy are. Yet a closer look at the religious/political situation surrounding the foundations of the school (which is set deep in the middle ages) and the centuries following reveals the reality of this attitude of blood purity.

As any student of history, or even pop culture knows, the middle ages were not a friendly time for those who practiced the magic arts, thanks to power that Christianity held over both rulers and populace and which enforced the view that magic was evil and those who practiced magic were in league with the devil and should be hunted down and killed. I’ve read in many fanfics that touched on this subject how letting students from non-magical backgrounds into a school where children were being taught magic could prove dangerous.

After all, it doesn’t take much imagination to know how a religiously dogmatic group will react to those who practice “heresy”. We have politicians today who proclaim Pagans aren’t worshiping real gods and don’t have a real religion, thus shouldn’t be protected under the American Constitution. We have religious leaders, Christian and Muslim, who deride modern life as “sinful” and that it should be destroyed and replaced with a “holier” existence and these are the mainstream leaders, not the extremists. Leaders with thousands, if not millions, of followers. Even the cast of Harry Potter are not untouched by this, as I remarked in a previous post where I passed along the story of one of the actresses going into hiding because her own family tried to make her the victim of an Islamic Honor Killing.

The recent Ground Zero Mosque situation that is going on is rife with strawmen. Those who oppose the mosque are said to be emotionally reacting and unable to grasp that this is a gesture of friendship. Those that support the mosque are said to be weak, unable to see the truth, and only interested in destroying this nation by giving into the enemy that is Islam. Both these strawmen are correct, but fail to see the bigger picture. Islam is very much an enemy of the West and our culture. People should be free to build their houses of worship. Those who are acting against the mosque do come from a place of emotion, more than “rational” thought. Those who support are acting in “rational” thought, but ignoring the emotions.
The host of Red Eye on Fox News channel has suggested building a Gay Bar across the street from the GZM, an act which I find funny and bold. It would certainly be interesting to see how the Muslims react to it. If I recall, those involved in the planning have said he is free to do so, but that it would be inconsiderate to Muslims. I find that ironic, and a bit insulting, considering that at last count on CNN’s HLN network 70% of those polled were against the GZM. That’s right, CNN, not Fox. Those polled, if I remember correctly, were not just New Yorkers, but All Americans.

Personally, I have a better option. Ground Zero is a sacred place. So let us make it a sacred place for all peoples. Let us rebuild the church that was destroyed near there. Let us build great Greek and Roman Temples, the likes of which have not been seen since the fall of Rome. Let us build sacred groves of towering trees, dedicated to Norse, Germanic, and Celtic Gods and Goddesses. Let us build Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, Egyptian temples, and Jewish Synagogues. Let us make it a ground holy and sacred to all faiths and creeds. Let them be staffed by the followers of those Gods and Goddesses. Let a mighty monument be raised above the site itself, towering and lasting, to stand centuries and longer. And when the Islamic call to prayer is sounded, let church bells toll, let cries to Pagan and Heathen Gods ring out, and let all know that this is a place that will not be dominated by Islam, but by all Faiths, and made Holy.

It strikes me as odd, that my own generation, that which is now in college or just leaving, and who don’t have the luxury of a black and white world like previous generations had, are so eager to stick to a black and white world. Perhaps it is all the programming we received in school. Maybe we just aren’t that smart, all told. Maybe we’ve been screwed over and made so jaded that we are eager to latch on to anything that sounds like it will make our lives better, even as we are systematically milked dry and indebted so that the older generation of our parents can enjoy a life of ease and comfort, while we pay the bills as we grow up. So few of them are willing, much less eager, to look at the strawmen and see what really lies there. So eager are they to embrace the views of Stewart (now considered one of the most reliable sources of news by many) that they fail to step back and see if those he’s making fun of have a point. Those who are liberal lash against those who are conservative, acting as if they are uncaring imperialists. Those who are conservative lash against the liberal, calling them thieves and fools who would destroy America. Both are right. Both are wrong. But no one tires to see the other side. They both lie in the Light, and can only understand black and white.

That is why I embrace the Dark Side, like I did so many years ago. By removing myself, I see a world far different and more complete. By embracing my heathen ways after, I regained much, but never lost that inherent darkness that permits me to step away from these feuding sides, and see the reality. Some see this as terrible, for what kind of evil person can listen to the words of a KKK member from the 1960’s and admit that his prophecy of blacks becoming degenerate criminals that would brutalize whites have, in part, come true? That the man himself was sane and rational, that while everyone in the classroom saw only a monster, realized it was merely a man trying to do what he thought was right, however wrong the methods were.

It takes a strong person to stand on that side. To realized that those who say they are “good” really are no better than you are, and sometimes are worse. The only difference, sometimes, is that the Villain admits what he is doing is wrong, but the Hero that does the same things, always says it is for the “Greater Good.” Christianity did terrible deeds for the “Greater Good” and now Islam is continuing its mission of submission to Allah by all peoples for the same “Greater Good.” Perhaps I and my Heathen people are Evil. Perhaps we are wrong. But I’m not going to stop.

I leave with these words from Milton. “It is better to be a king in Hell, than a slave in Heaven.”

Killing in the Name of....Honor?

Just recently, Fox News ran a special about an Honor Killing in America. Sadly, this is an ever more common occurrence, both here in America, Europe and other non-Muslim lands. It has been a staple of Muslim nations since the creation of Islam. If it existed in those land before, I cannot say.

What has caused me to write this is a pair of videos found on YouTube, as well as a general interest in the topic, which I will get to in a moment.





So, why is this topic of interest and importance to me, a western man? Well, for me it's the word Honor. As those who have been on this blog and delved the archives, it's pretty clear that I'm a heathen Asatruar. In my religion and culture, there is not concept of sin, but rather deeds are judged by if they are honorable or shameful. It is one of the oldest cultures in Europe. Our Germanic/Celtic/Norse traditions of Honor have shaped the concept of that word in the West since the beginning.

Now, honor is different depending on culture. The honor of a Norseman is different from the Honor of a Japanese Samurai. That said, almost every culture has similarities about what is honorable and what to do if that honor is impugned. Typically, in Honor based societies, from England to Japan, it is the one who wronged you or your family that is dealt with, often by force, often to the death.

However, there is one culture that claims to be Honor based that deviates from this pattern. It is the Islamic nations. There, something odd, and dare I say both terrible and dishonorable happens. It is the victim, in the case of women, which is dealt with. This is the nature of the Islamic Honor Killing. A woman is raped, or even in many cases, talks to a man outside her own family with romantic intent or not, is slain in the name of restoring honor to her family. Often, the other party is left alone, or occasionally dealt with if currently in the presence of the woman at the time. In the case of the Honor Killing Fox News reported on, the Father murdered his teenage daughters, simply for dating a pair of Mexicans. His family was supportive of this decision, and his son believed he had done right.

This is a far cry from how my own Norse ancestors dealt with such matters, or even how Europeans dealt with this. Should a woman be involve or not, it was the task of men to defend honor against another man. This is where the duel comes from, as does trial by combat. If a woman was raped, it was the rapist who was killed. Blame was not placed upon the woman, nor was she harmed for being the victim of such a crime.

So, why the wild difference? Why is it that in Europe, the woman is cherished and protected in matters of honor, while in Islamic lands she is the one who must be killed to restore honor? This is a complex and difficult question to answer.

It is clear that the difference arises from the different cultures and religions involved. Both claim to value women, indeed many have made a big deal recently that Islam holds women to be precious and valuable and equal to men. One can argue that history disproves this claim, but we must remember that equality is often hard to qualify in cultures different from our own modern one, which has enough trouble figuring out what is equal. Indeed, many today hold that in Europe cultures both Christian and Pre-Christian were misogynistic, which as far as the Pagan cultures go, I would argue otherwise beyond a few exemptions among the Greeks. However, even if European cultures were suppressive of women, we never see anything resembling the Islamic Honor Killing.

It would be easy for me, in my bias, to claim that it is the inherent superiority of Polytheism over Monotheism that caused Europe to value women and move to defend honor against the aggressor. A case could be made for this, as well, but it tastes hollow to argue this, however true I may feel it to be. It is true that in polytheistic religions, women were far more valued than in Monotheistic religions (Judaism is the best in regards to equality, but while not as bad as Islam, Christianity is highly misogynistic). But the issue goes deeper than this, because when Christianity forcibly took Europe, we still didn't see the rise of Female Honor Killing. This could be argued as the ancient pagan cultures surviving in Christendom, but even so I feel that this is not the root of it. Also, Judaism never had Honor Killings like those of Islam. Therefore I conclude that the issue, though influenced by Monotheism, does not in fact arise from the believe in only One God.

The fact that, to my knowledge, this manner of Honor Killing occurs in only those who practice Islam, it can be concluded that it arises from Islam itself. Now, much of the "Moderate" Islam claims to come down against Honor killings. This, however, means little, as it is obvious that Honor Killing comes from Islam, as previously mentioned and that under Islamic believe it is okay to lie in the presence of Non-Muslims for the cause of Islam and it is a part of Shariah Law.

So what is the reality? In Islam, which claims to value women, the opposite is in fact true. Women are viewed as subhuman and second class, barely above Non-Muslims. Women are the ones who brought sin into this world, and should a woman show her hair or other parts of herself, it is, according to Muslims, enough to incite men to rape her uncontrollably, and she will be blamed for it. Now, maybe it's my European heritage, where we value women equal and even a woman wearing the smallest bikini can generally be assured she is safe from rape among Europeans peoples, but I've never seen a woman so beautiful and alluring that I just had to rape her. I've always had better control than that, and traditionally, Men in most cultures (at least the European as that is what I know best) were the same as me. Sure, rape happened, but it was always an issue of power, not of lust, if modern science is to be believed. I would assume that power is the driving issue, not physical lust, that drives most rapes by Muslim Men. This can be seen by such crimes done by Muslims in Europe, but that is a different topic.

What is on topic is that Women are not valued by Islam. Therefore, if they have no value, there is no point in fighting for them (especially if they are responsible for eternal suffering and sin like they are in Islam, thus for Muslims it is logical to punish them). Very much the opposite of how women were viewed in traditional Pagan Europe, and while Christianity did bring these attitudes as well, it was mitigated by old European values.

Honor Killings under Islam are a perversion of the Universal Concept of Honor. This is why this issue touches me personally. People trying to stop Honor Killings decry the evils of "Honor System" and "Tribalism" two things that define Asatru. The fact that Islamic Honor is an insane inversion of what Honor really is, matters little to the average person. Islam is one of the most numerous religions in the world. It is certainly one of the most powerful ideologies out there.

So, what can we do? Well, personally I say we do the honorable thing. We step up and end it. We take our European honor, or even the larger, ancient concept, where Men are to be Manly and defend the women of their families and society, not punish them for being free thinking and liberated individuals. We step up, and speak for those who cannot speak. We step up and fight for those who cannot fight. We step up, and show Muslims that We are Men and Women of the West, and we will not stand for people being made slaves based on gender, nor slain for simply wanting to be with someone that their family doesn't approve of.

Good News, Everyone

As anyone who has watched Futurama knows, those words mean epic adventure, danger, and an increase in health insurance and possible mortality rates is about to ensue.

Well, I indeed have good news.

Found about this less than an hour ago and I don't know how many are already talking about this or if they are trying to cover it up, but here it is:

International Burn a Quran Day!

Already it has a Facebook page which at the time of this posting has 1,990 fans and is rapidly growing. If I had a facebook, I would probably join too.

So, what's the story behind this? Turns out a little nondenominational church in Florida has had enough of Islam and proclaimed it of the Devil (nothing new here) and are going to make as big a statement as they can, by Burning copies of the Quran on September 11th of this year in honor of the victims of the terrorist attack as a public declaration against Islam.

As you can imagine, the hate has already begun. Ironically, the preacher doesn't come across as crazy. He merely stands against Islamic law, according a CNN video, below. People are raging against it on Facebook, even as others are defending it.



I would have used my new powers of embedding the video, but that function was disabled.

So, where do I stand on this. While I would normally stand against a Christian enforcing his religion on principle, at this time, especially after watching his interview, I stand with this act. I do not do this to spread hate. As I have commented before, being a Pagan/Heathen is a death sentience under Islam. Islam has destroyed move alternative view points and life styles than even Christianity, and it has not let up to this day. I stand with this Day because it is time people Took A Stand beyond just crying out the injustices of Islam. When Muslim men rape women in Sweden simply because they are Blond and they view Blonds as Whores who ask for it. When young women are kidnapped and turned into drugged prostitutes while still teenage by Muslim Men, not just in Islamic Countries, but even in England! It is time to take a stand!

Does this mean I will go out on 9/11 and burn a Quran. I don't know. I honestly couldn't tell you. But if these people do it, then I will cheer loudly and raise a drink to honor their bravery and to my Gods so that such actions are rewarded with Glory and Honor! Because it has been proven without a doubt since its creation that Islam is Not A Religion of Peace! It is a religion of domination, destruction, and the complete and total submission of all peoples to a Tyrannical God.

So I call for all men and women, Polytheist, Monotheist, or Atheist, to support this movement! Show no fear! For if mankind is to be free to do what is right in their eyes and live their lives freely, We cannot let Islam take control!

For the love of our people, Not for the hate of Islam, should this thing be done!

May the Gods and Goddess of all Mankind join us!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An Update:

The Face book group is up to 2,231 members. I have viewed the comments on the YouTube link I posted, and they are not promising. It turns out the pro-Islam people are out in force there as well as a mixed bag on Facebook.

I wish to clarify that I do not, on principle, support the burning of books. I'm a die-hard book worm and hate to see books destroyed. That said, I do still support what these people are trying to do. It is a noble cause, we're just seeing what happens when people feel that noble methods no longer work. Personally, I can't say I blame them for feeling disenfranchised, after reading many of the pro-Islam comments and seeing a distinct lack of anti-Islam ones.

Three Things About Islam You Should Know

Here's a vid originally posted on Gates of Vienna. Everyone should watch, I've heard that permission has been given to mirror so it doesn't get deleted.



Polytheist, Monotheist, or Non-theist. Learn what Islam is. Learn what it plans for you. Because under Islam there is only one god, Allah, and only one way of worship, Submission. All other ways are to be destroyed by religious mandate. This is not hate speech against Islam. This is a warning to anyone who values other Gods or the ability to not believe in Gods.

It's not a Girl's World afterall

So, been a while since I posted, for which I do apologize. circumstances being what they are, I wasn't able to go after my previous record from the last month. That said, I figured I'd drop a little something today.

Let me start by mentioning a story I found earlier this month, the article of which I have sadly misplaced, so no link this time. What happened is that over in England, a school filled its Head Positions (Which as anyone who had read Harry Potter knows, go to the top Male and Female students of each year to act as representatives and help keep their class mates inline). The problem arises in how they filled these Head Positions; Namely, with all girls. The article stated that out of the ten (10) students selected to have a chance as Head Boy, Head Girl, and the two assistant positions, only Two (2) were boys. Okay, well, in this age of political correctness one would think that those two boys would automatically get the Head Boy and Assistant Head Boy position.

You'd be wrong.

Rather, this school filled all four positions with girls. Now, I do not wish in the slightest to demean these girls. I'm sure they are all fine students and are caught up in an ugly business not of their making. That said, none of them have protested this blatant round of sexism. But, they are young and most likely just happy to have something that will look good on their transcripts. The real problem comes from those in charge of the school. The principle basically came out and said that the "Boys weren't good enough." Now, I'm sorry, but everything I know about this says that the position is traditionally filled by the top students of the gender assigned to that position, not simply to the top students.

I'd hate to know how those boys felt, hearing that even if they were the "best" they weren't good enough. That's gonna do wonders for them in life.

That said, further news had cause to make one realize that while the above story is the triumph of feminism rising above male dominance, things are not as they seem. Apparently, being a girl isn't enough to get you ahead. You have to be the right kind of girl.

A little gem of an article tells the story of Brooke Heike, a college basket ball player who got benched and lost her scholarship. The reason for this benching, however, has nothing to do with the typical reasons athletes are kicked off the field though. Rather, it seems Brooke was a bit too heterosexual, with a taste for feminine clothing and make up that her coach just did not approve of. Apparently, for not going lesbian, or "Following advice that would improve her life on the court and off", is enough to get you kicked around.

Which reminds me of another story (sorry, lost the article again) in which a young woman was kicked out of her Master's program because she refused to give up her Christian views on Homosexuality. The only way she would have been allowed to continue would have been to attend a bunch of events and sensitivity classes about Homosexuality. No doubt, in the hopes of reprogramming her views. (No doubt bonus points if she actually found out she was lesbian and her Christianity had repressed it. This is important because I believe the issue arose from the young woman believing Homosexuality was a choice).

Meanwhile, back in Britain thousands of girls are facing the prospect of being taken and experiencing the joys of becoming a woman! Oh, wait, sorry. The joys of Female Genital Mutilation, which makes them a woman! That's right, ladies, you too can become a valued member of society and experience freedom and equality! We're just gonna slice, dice, rip, and hack a vital part of your anatomy away. Then stick you in a burka, hide you away, and blame you for every crime a man commits against you because Allah made it that way.

So where are those who could champion the cause of Woman's Liberation? Where are the feminists, who decry male totalitarian action that subjugates women? Oh they are very, very busy with something even more important! Hail to the Heroes, er Heroines...um, sorry, Heroic Persons?

Not so much...

Seems that the apron is coming back. Yep, that age old garment that has kept food off of clothing in the kitchen (and become something of a sexy symbol in certain circles) has reappeared in the female consciousness. Why is a mystery (because the obvious answer isn't). Some say it's because women are turning back to something comfortable in this uncertain time, just like they did in the 1950's. Some say they wear the apron "Ironically", but don't ask me how that works. Others say it's a return of Male Oppression and Sexism. Because a woman feeling sexy and homemakery is the height of sexism, even if it's what she wants. So thus does a battle rage in the circles of Feminism about the appropriateness of women staying home, wearing aprons, and other some things. Rejoice! They fight for you, womankind!

I'm not sure there's much more I can say about that right now. I could continue to rant, or explore the internal viewpoints of the feminist movements, but honestly I don't know what more I need to say. A movement promising to liberate women fights endlessly against aprons and homemaking, but does precious little to stop the horrendous sexism from Islam or stop the barbaric practices it has against its women. I thought the feminist movement was about empowering women so they could chose the lives they want, not insisting they live a certain kind of life, while ignoring those in this modern era who suffer in far worse situations that Women in the West have ever faced in their entire history.

Islam comes knocking again

Well, back again, though I'm not sure its to anyone's regret. I found the stats thing on Blogger and well...I'm not that popular. Apparently screaming heathen insults at the world doesn't get you that much attention. But oh well, such is life.

But back to the important, or at least interesting things of life.

First off, people may remember my post, or more famously the numerous others by more famous people, about Draw Mohammad Day. Well, Facebook caved like a B**** in front of her pimp when various Muslim groups started howling about "Blasphemy" and took down the facebook group page for people engaged in said drawing. Apparently, that wasn't enough to appease bloodthirsty dogmatic what can't stand an image of their prophet. Now, calls for the Founder of Facebook to be executed under Islamic law have been brought forth, as well as legal proceedings to make it happen. Congrats, man, you folded and now they put you on the chopping block.

But do not worry, oh Founder of Facebook, for you are not alone! Indeed, there are many members of the the Muslim murder manifesto! Some may have heard of this, but a woman is scheduled to be killed at anytime for the crime of adultery. Of course, it's not like she was caught in the act. Nope, her confession was extracted via 99 lashes while her son looked on. He is currently pleading for mercy on her behalf. Somehow though, even if she is spared the Government's blade, she will not be spared her family's. She would be a victim of Honor Killing.

Fortunantly, another young woman has escaped an attempted honor killing. Afshan Azad, better known to the world as Padma Patil in the Harry Potter movies, was threatened with death and physically attacked in the name of Islamic Honor by her father and brothers. She is hidden away, hopefully in safety. Supposedly, she regrets reporting the threats, but this appears to be a lie told by the attorney representing her Father and Brothers. Currently, her Father and Brothers are out on bail. Afshan's crime? Going out with a Hindu man.

But this is the religious ideology that has led to the windows of a swimming pool being frosted over in order to Protected the Modesty of Muslim Women. Completely against the Wishes of Non-Muslims. Modesty, my ass. I'm with the Ancient Greeks on this one, the human form in its perfect beauty is to be enjoyed, not hidden away.

But it's all okay! Islam is here to help us! Not like those nasty Jews! (And yes, I realize that with that sarcastic comment my heathen, Germanic/Scandinavian ass will be thrown in the fire). Islam is here to save us from the Racist Jews! And don't worry, everyone can join and get away with it!

And here I thought we got rid of anti-Semitic attitudes after WWII. Someday, I'm going to have to explore this topic, but not in this post.

And what does our leader, our messiah do, in the face of an ideology that slaughters women and children, practices rampant Antisemitism, kills polytheists on sight, and count's all peoples who are not members of their religion as second class beings, but not as people? Does he bring out a might sword and cleave them? Does he rain fire from the skies? Does he come forth to save the women killed for nothing more than being beautiful and wanting to embrace that beauty rather than hide it? Does he save the little children from the blades of holy men who kill or mutilate them?

No.

Not just no, HELL NO!

I've seen more strength and damage and power in a CARE BEAR STARE!

WE are the nation that reached the MOON! It was our NASA that took us where no man had gone before! And now Obama wants NASA, an organization he has neutered and stripped of all Space Craft to the point where we must rely on Russians and Chinese to take us to space, to buddy up with MUSLIM NATIONS that have never succeeded in building more than a flying bomb, in order to make them feel special about what they have contributed to SCIENCE!!!!

But Norse Alchemist, surely you remember that it was the Arabs who gave us our numerals, Algebra, and preserved Alchemical texts.

First off, our Arabic Numerals actually came from India. That's right. All the Muslims did was transport them over on the trade routes. I've come lately to question other Scientific achievements Muslims have brought us as well. Why? Look at the technology levels in Muslim countries. They were like that, even before European Imperialists came into town. And Muslims were the ones who destroyed hundreds upon hundreds of Alchemical and Scientific texts when they burned down the Library at Alexandria.

People will likely say I'm Islamophobic. That I am a racist or something like that. I am not. Islamophobia means Fear of Islam. I do not fear Islam. I have reasons to, many of them. Subjugation of women, mass murder, suppression of alternative ideas, slaughter or forced conversion for Pagan peoples. The complete and utter destruction of things not Islamic. These are things to fear. But I do not fear Islam. I am a heathen, one who walks the Asatru, and while that means I have more to lose than most should Islam takes over, I do not fear. Not because my Gods will not let them win, but because the day of my death was fated long ago and I know where I will go when I'm dead. We need to stop Islam. We need to allow people to be free! Men and Women, equal in the eyes of the Gods and Goddesses, free to live their lives as they please! No more totalitarian monotheism, especially not Islam!

I do not fear Islam. But I will fight it. I will stand strong as a heathen, and make them remember, should they strike me, why Everyone the world over, especially the Christians, but even some Muslims, fear the craft of the Vikings to this day. My forefathers came from our frozen lands as Vikings in order to preserve their culture and religion, leaving behind so much beyond the two hundred years of their war. Now we, the sons and daughters of those Norse/Germanic people, must be ready to rise again, to hold sacred shield, and defend ourselves and our children.

Watching the World Burn

So yeah, I've been busy this month on here, as I think this marks the eight post in one month. Weird, because I hadn't really expected to keep posting this much, but a little down time and a lot of news makes for a busy Alchemist.

So to start off, I'm taking a second look at McChrystal, who it seems resigned (though it still amounts to being fired when everything is said) and people starting to climb fences on how necessary it was that he lose his command. Personally, while I agree some level of reprimand was accorded for his blatant insubordination (though I suspect such things are common in the military at this point) there is some question as just how right he was with his comments. I personally don't know much of military life (as I see myself as a warrior and not a soldier, not that one is better than the other, they're just different) but I've always been struck that soldiers are loyal and pragmatic. They might complain about Meals Rejected by Ethiopians, but they don't seriously complain about command like McChrystal did unless there is a serious reason. I'm sure this is a debate that will rage for a few more weeks.

Next up is the issue of the President's leisure time. Apparently, according to the Washington Post, Obama is the president who plays the most golf out of all our presidents. Hmmm, why are people whining about the BP CEO going on one yacht race again? Hanging with rock stars, throwing parties, spending millions in taxpayer dollars to go around the country to talk about how great he is, meanwhile the Gulf Oil spill keeps going and BP can't do all the things it would like to solve the problem and the Gulf States are blocked at every turn from helping themselves, while international aid can't get in because Obama won't wave a tiny law (after downright shattering so many others.) Is it any wonder Louisiana called for a state wide day of prayer? It's not like they've got any other options. I hope that the gods take mercy on them, because the Federal Government won't.

And so the world burns. Thanks to the the anti-Isreali attitude that is spreading throughout the world, we see a monster in the West we thought died with the Nazi party. But like a cheap horror movie, it comes back, wearing a different face: in the form of children from Muslim countries hurled stones at dancing Jews and yelled "JEW OUT!" Supposedly this is the first instance in that city of anti-Semitic behavior that didn't come from Neo-Nazi peoples, but I honestly doubt that, because Neo-Nazis are mostly talk, especially in Germany.

Which leads well enough in to the next topic: Mannequins Without Boobs. Perhaps this is an odd topic for me, but it is the location of these boobless mannequins and how they lost said boobs; Tehran and by having them hacked and filed off. I know we are supposed to respect other peoples and their cultures, that we are not to feel that the West is superior to all others or that the deeds we have done have brought greater life and liberty to people in this humble little blue/green world. If you listen to some people, European peoples are responsible for more evil than has ever been committed. Yet, reading that article and so many others, I can't help but wonder if the old Victorian attitudes weren't just a little better, a little more right. When I can look at the worst slave owner in the American South from before the Civil War and see more humanity in him than the average Muslim. Am I supposed to believe that I as a heathen of European decent am equal, or even inferior, to the Muslim who burns his daughter's face with acid, joins a mob and gang rapes a woman because she isn't wearing a veil, who creates a government that rapes women before they kill them so that they will burn in Hell for eternity? My people brought forth Democracy, Equality, Sexual Freedom. Sure, my Viking forefathers did their share of rape along with the pillage, but they never went on misogynistic rampages where they abused and slaughtered women just for being women. They had wives, mothers, and daughters back home who knew just how much their Norse husbands, sons, and fathers loved and respected them. Most of the misogyny in the West can be traced to Christianity, but even then, I don't think it ever was so bad, even with the witch hunts, as daily life in the Muslim world. Yet it is the Muslim who is embraced by those who claim to champion racial and sexual freedom, despite Islam being the single most sexually repressive religion that kills women for the slightest offense and is more cruel to its slaves in this day and age than any European person in all the ages. We never sprayed acid in the face of little girl who want to go to school, or publicly stone women before cheering crowds for the simple crime of...what? Can you look me in the eyes and say that the people who do such things are equal to me? Can you say their way of life is worthy of respect and is superior to mine?

In Paris there is now a shelter for Bloggers on the run, who must hide in order to get their words out. Somehow, I doubt that they run from the Western powers, at least just yet. That day will most likely come soon enough.

As we watch the modern world burn, we look back and find the Hall of Harald Bluetooth, who gave his name to that tiny little headset. He claimed to Christianize the Norse, and maybe he did, but it didn't last. The Old Gods stir and in these troubled times we look to them to aid us in our fight to preserve the Western Way and the Asatru.

May the Western Flame never die.

Simple Words From a Simple Man

I believe it is a Chinese curse to live in interesting times.

I'm not sure I see that as a curse, being a Norseman, but I will admit that interesting times these are. I'm not sure how I feel about them, either. It is a little known fact (outside of the Asatru and some parts of the historical community) that the Norse/Germanic peoples were not all about violence. More often than not, we lived simple lives with our kin, farming and trading, while occasionally going off to battle. Even today, the Scandinavian peoples are known as some of the most easy going and friendly peoples out there. I myself find that rather than global conquest, I would prefer a simple life as a writer and alchemist, practicing old ways with a wife and children, rather than laying waste to the world. Not that I don't occasionally feel the need for epic levels of warfare, but still, more often than not even I find peace to be something desirable.

Yet, peace too often these days, is a lie. The current presidential administration may declare the war on terror over, but even I can see that not only is it not over, but that it is escalating. The current project to build a massive Mosque at Ground Zero is a declaration of victory in any language. It is in Islam, and so is it in Christianity, which build churches on the ashes of sacred groves and other heathen holy sites. We are told to be tolerant, but there is a difference between letting one man bed another, and letting a totalitarian ideology insist that we bow before it and no other. I've had enough of that under the Christians, I do not wish to see it with the Muslims.

There is new light shed on claims that Obama is a Muslim. I still am not sure if this is true, or my stance on it as his being a Christian would hold much the same status to me as a Heathen. Still, his own words are I am a Muslim, and while many would call him an inept speaker of untruths, I would almost say he speaks honestly as he believes. I'm not sure which is more frightening. However, should this rumor be true, it places new light on the BP oil spill.

While the true cause of the oil spill is still uncertain, it's effects are less so. I am no expert on these things, nor have I researched it much, but I've heard (on Rush Limbaugh who I rarely if ever listen to) that even if the oil spills until late August, the scale of the spill will basically be one-one millionth of an ounce of oil to the amount of water in a full bathtub. I encourage you to check the math. However, indisputably, Obama has halted all oil drilling off shore in the Gulf. This means no more American oil, and thus a majority of Arab oil on the market. Once more sending massive amounts of funding to an ideology that seeks supremacy, not tolerance and freedom.

I know that Islam is not compatible with Asatru. Not because my religion would insist others follow our gods, but because Islam allows no one to follow any god other than their own. It is a matter of Western values of honor, freedom, and individuality opposing Eastern values of honor, submission, and collectivization. It is true that historically in the west, there were killings based on honor. However, in those cases it was always the guilty party, i.e. the Offender, who was slain. We fought duels and wars. When a man's wife or daughter was raped, he would hunt down the rapist and punish him. When in Islam there is an offense of honor, it is only the victim that is punished.

Perhaps I am a strange person. Perhaps I am ignorant, to not understand Islamic honor. Maybe it is a sin for a woman to wish to be free. To let her hair out in the wind, to flirt and find love, to know the pleasures of the flesh and of the heart. I am an uncultured heathen, perhaps it is beyond my simple mind to understand how slicing a girl's genitals up with broken glass or dull blade helps her to be a better person. Maybe my heathen gods and goddesses have clouded my mind to the point where a woman can walk around, displaying all the skin she wants, and not fear that I shall rape her. Perhaps Muslim men are superior to me, in that their lust is so great the smallest hint of a long hair, or soft skin, or beautiful smile is such that they cannot help themselves and must punish their women for causing lust, lest they rape them. Perhaps, in all my life, I have been wrong to think that a free people are a just people.

Perhaps.

But I don't think so.

I have many gods and goddesses, none of which ask me to kneel in submission. They gave their children freedom and honor, true honor, to live lives that are happy and free. Where women can bare their beautiful bodies in safety and men may look upon them and praise the Gods for creating such wonders. Where we do not fear our lust, or our rage, or our joy. Where our children are safe from their parents, where you can love whom you chose and how you chose.

If a life such as that is ignorant and stupid, then I never want to be smart. I will be a simple man, who walks with simple gods and goddesses. I and I say woe unto the peoples that try to take that from me. For while we Norse are kindly folk...our legend remains even after a thousand years. Our gods are not just gods of fertility and nature...they are Gods of War. Islamic Jihad may be a fundamental tenant of their religion...but we are Norse and Germanic peoples. Look at the history of Europe. We know how to bring a fight and while our current leaders quibble and quake, bowing down and begging for peace and tolerance, there will come a time when those who seek to impose tyrant will have to face men and women rising up from the people by force of will, either from within the current political structure or from outside of it.

The Eastern philosophy of Christ and a Hundred odd years of progressive thought will not change the character of a people that has endured for over ten thousand years, from the first Germanic and Celtic tribes as well as the mighty Romans and high born Greeks. Be warned, a giant sleeps, and you have not the god to kill it should it awaken.

Such are the words and will of a simple heathen.

Food for Thought: Jews, Antisemitism, and The West

I made this comment after reading an article at Gates of Vienna, which has sparked a bit of controversy about Jewish people and the nature of Antisemitism and how it is used. While my comment stands for itself, I think it would be helpful to read all the comments that came before for a fuller picture.

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It must be said that there are many interesting points and I doubt anyone here is entirely right or wrong.

As a person who walks Asatru, I am willing to admit that I have benefited from "multiculturalism" weakening the Tyrannical hold of Christianity almost as much as I have suffered for its constant attacks against peoples of European decent. In some ways it is the ultimate irony, that the very thing that destroys the West is the same thing that permits me to rediscover and live the original Western way. However, I feel that the best way for us to continue is to follow the path of the founding fathers: i.e. the path of Freedom, rather than Tolerance. Tolerance means that the bigger power lets the lesser do as it pleases, rather than all powers living in the freedom to do as they please so long as it doesn't impose upon the rights of another.

That said, I do agree that there are interests special to the Jews. To be honest, it is so for all people and groups and this makes them no more good or evil than any other. People here have made very good arguments as to why some Jews act the way they do. It is true that the religion of the Jews does lend itself to taking the Liberal side of things. However, one must remember the history of the Jews at the hands of both Christians and Muslims, and I personally recognize that it is almost as terrible as what happened to followers of Pagan/Heathen religions at the hands of Monotheists. I'm not saying they were to blame or were blameless.

If it is true that some or most of the liberal Jews are working to destroy the so called "Christian West" (an idea I find laughable since Christianity is an Eastern Religion) I would surmise that their desire to destroy Christianity is the same reason Islam and Christianity have historically tried to destroy all non-believers: the problem with having One God, who has One Chosen People, each who has The One Correct Way, is that any other religions are a threat to their claims of religious supremacy. And, be they Jews, Christians, or Muslims, those monotheistic, Abrahamic religions have always claimed divine supremacy. If the Jews seek to destroy the West, it is because it threatens the belief/concept that they are the Chosen People of the One God. The fact that they've not had the numbers to really do anything about it matters little. The Bible has many stories of the Jews/Original Israelite people commuting genocide against Polytheistic nations.

But that is just my personal opinion. I've studied a fair bit of history, and I've seen the patterns taken by those who worship the One God. The Jews, like every other race, wishes to survive and thrive and as a whole will attempt to preserve its life and power, even if it means sacrificing the well being of someone else. Doesn't make them any better or worse than the rest of us, however much they (like every other group) feels like they are superior.

I leave these words as food for thought.

Cry Havoc

So, I'm guessing most people have heard about the whole Israel sending in commandos to take control of those Free Gaza ships, which were attempting to get in past a blockade to "give aid." Presumable, people are choosing their sides, if they haven't already. I've heard all manner of things being thrown around, most of it anti-Israeli in the media and a mixture on the net. Second hand sources say the anti-Israeli stuff on the net borders on levels not seen since Nazi Germany.

So, what does this have to do with me? Not all that much, or so it would seem. As a heathen this strikes me as yet another instance of either anti-semitism, infighting between Monothiests, namely the State of Israel and a bunch of people who apparently have ties to Islamic terrorist organizations. (more on that can be seen at Gates of Vienna, which goes into it far better than I can).

But I feel this does effect those of us who are pagan/heathen and far away from the shores of Israel. I've stated before that Islam has little love for Jews and Christians and outright suicidal hate for polytheists. And, as ruthless as this sounds, the longer they have Israel to focus on, they won't be as active hunting us polytheists. But that won't last forever.

A more real threat is that as this is happening, Turkey (who seems to be a real backer of these "aid" ships) is severing ties with Israel and trying to draw NATO to their side in any actions taken against Israel. The other Islamic nations in the area seem to be gearing up for something, and I've read that Israel is prepping its troops for action on its borders. All this, while more ships have left Turkey to run the blockade to the Gaza Strip.

We've heard countless times that the Middle East is an explosive ready to blow. Still, I can't help but wonder if this won't end up being an Archduke Ferdinand.

Only time will tell. Pray to the Gods that we, the tiny minority of polytheists, will make it out okay.

It's a little like Highlander...

There can be only one. (God)

Much has been made about the current US administration going off the deep end. Personally, I don't thing it's going off the deep end so much as it blasted off with powerful rockets, breaking the speed of light, and traveling to new dimensions which violate the laws of physics. If you watch Glen Beck, odd and emotional man that he is, you'll no doubt be regaled with hours of Progressivism and Obama's part in it. Fair enough, he probably has a point.

Others will speak at length of Obama's Muslim ties. While these are questionable, there is something interesting about the current admins and its relationship with Islam. Namely, the latest bit that has come out.

Jihad is Legit

That's right, Jihad, Terrorism, and Terror are no longer what we fight against. Jihad is legitimate now. Islam may now engage in holy struggle to its hearts content.

Right...

Now, while those Christians and Jews who understand what this means go running around screaming in terror, I would like to address my fellow Heathens and Pagans, be cause this means something more for us than it does for the Christians and Jews. This is because Christians and Jews have special protection under Islam: They are People of the Book, and may be permitted to worship their religions (at a price, mind you). Not so for us who follow the paths of many gods and goddesses. For us there is only two choices: Convert or Die.

This no Cake or Death moment for us, my fellow Heathens. I will admit that when it comes down to it, I'm not sure how many of us will react to the Sword of Islam hanging over our heads at the true, physical moment when we must choose Heathen Gods and Death, or Life under Islamic Submission. I do know/hope that at least amongst those who follow the Asatru, and other paths being reconstructed will have the strength to say no to more monotheistic oppression.

When it comes to the Asatruar, I do think I know what will happen, at least when it comes to myself. Over a thousand years ago, Heathen men and women faced a threat much like this one, and for two hundred years we put such a fear of Heathen peoples into Christianity that they still speak of it with terror.

We have Gods of War.

They have only a God of Submission.

Slaves may kill Freemen, but they can never truly defeat them.

Draw Mohammad Day

So, turns out that today is International Draw Mohammad, or at least it is the one sponsored by Gates of Vienna and their fellow bloggers. They've been talking about it for a few weeks, with a facebook group up and running with enough people to cause Pakistan to stop Facebook services in their country. This IDM was started in response to actions taken to suppress images of Mohammad on the parts of Comedy Central (involving the infamous South Park's plans to show the Prophet) and other artists who had previously drawn said individual and faced religiously backed call for execution from Muslim countries. Lars Vilks being a rather famous example of this.

While the vast majority of my anti-monotheistic feelings are aimed at Christianity, for reasons obvious and historical, it must be stated that Islam is just as bad, nay, worse that the Christ god's way, when it comes to suppressing alternative religions and lifestyles. Indeed, while elements of older traditions such as magic, paganism, alchemy, and more were somewhat preserved in Christian lands there is no such thing preservation in Muslim lands. Alchemy, while having a high point in Islamic civilization, was initially suppressed HARD. I've read that the Library at Alexandra, while already damaged before hand, had it destruction pretty much completed when Islam reached the city as the knowledge with in had come from "Before Islam" and was no longer needed. We can only guess at what was lost in those flames. Even more so, there is little if any records of magic from those areas that hadn't previously been transported into Europe or else where. This is not even counting the fact that to this day in Islamic nations, people are still executed for the crime of practicing "Black Magic" for any purpose.

So, while I am not joining in the International Draw Mohammad day, primarily because my art sucks, I place my voice among those who support the daring artists and their noble quest to support free speech in the face of oppression. For oppression it is, when a religion insists on suppressing and killing those who make images of their sacred leader. I will not get into the entire nature of the actions taken against those who violate the Laws of Islam as there plenty others out there who can do it better.

Good Fortune, Brave Souls. Know that while men, governments, and angry hordes rage against you, Heathen Gods watch on with joy and cheer you on, joined by Heathen Men!

Of Heathen and Pagan Matters.

In my short time as a blogger, I have come across many things. I’ve come across other blogs I’ve enjoyed, commented with people of many points of view, and even argued with some. As noted in my previous posts, I’ve even argued with people outside of the internet, namely with the evangelicals that have appeared on my campus. I have enjoyed these things, namely because I find it fun to discuss things, and frankly I love conflict in various forms. It’s one of the reasons I follow my ancestor’s religion, even if not that religiously (pun is recognized and intentional, The Norse have an entire art of making bad puns.)

As mentioned before, the Christians didn’t show up when they were expected, though they did show up Thursday last. I stood out there, holding a sign declaring Pagan Pride and Heathen Heart. I was once more on the field, discussing, questioning, and arguing. I stood up for students when my foe ignored them. I called him on issues. I spared little mercy in my verbal battle with him. I even sent him scrambling for his bible when I pointed out his God had not asked for consent before causing the immaculate conception of his god. When I returned after class to the amphitheater, the Christians had moved to personal discussions rather than preaching. This time, there was a noticeable difference. The first time I came across them, personal discussion time had been quiet. This time, raging groups of students were in the faces of these men, shouting back and howling against the Christians. I have no idea if my bold stance had encouraged this action, but I was happy to see it.

Yet, there was one Christian who sought to speak peacefully. Not allied with the other two that were out there, we briefly spoke. It was a pleasure to engage him, not in grandiose argument, but in simple discussion. Neither of us changed the others mind, but for me that wasn’t the goal, and I think he might have begun to understand my stance. Sadly, the path I follow isn’t as simple as the Christian’s, and I had not time to go into greater detail of my beliefs.

Several times I’ve gotten into arguments at Gates of Vienna in their comments section, defending the ancient ways against Christians who insist that their path is the only way. For those who don’t know, Gates of Vienna is a site that talks about the growing presence of Islam and its historic and modern desire to remove all paths other than its own. I, and others, have held against Christians wanting to do the same thing in the name of fighting Islam. While little is accomplished in changing their minds, I hope to educate others about the ways of myself and our common ancestors, as well as lead to a uniting against those that would see us gone.

Yet, this is not an easy thing to accomplish. I just finished reading Laurie R. King’s “The Language of Bees,” which is part of a series I started when I was younger and enjoyed, as it was about Sherlock Holmes and a young woman who apprentices for him and later marries him. Marry Russell Holmes, the character in question, has a background in Judaism both in education and heritage. In the book she deals with a case involving paganism and I had great hopes for it. Sadly, the book portrays all spirituality outside the monotheistic tradition as superstitious follow at best, and generally the field of murderers, madmen, and the insane. Crowley is mentioned, but never in a good context, which may or may not be justified based on his history. In all, the book had an opportunity to step outside the norm and show a true vision of another path, and instead went for the all too familiar path.

If my tone this post is melancholy, it is because I realize many things. This world is changing, and while we’ve thrown off old oppressions to an extent, too many seem willing to hide under new ones. I am proud of the history of America, and what it sought to accomplish. The Founding Fathers were amazing men, who by all accounts were not truly Christian, and seemed more often than not to embrace Pagan ideals carried over though the centuries. Yet all too often, they are either claimed by the Christians as devout men, or vilified by those who oppose their vision as evil slave holders. Such is the nature of Christian morality that permeates our society, even in the farthest left. One must either be entirely good, or entirely evil. There is no middle ground, which is precisely where we Heathens and Pagans tend to lie. Sadly, it is often the middle ground that is destroyed in the shelling by either side. The results of which can be seen with the Vikings, in a way. Long have they been remembered as murdering barbarians, rather than heroes who sought to preserve the ways of their people.

I have stated many places that the One God leads to One Way. Few things in this world are truer than that statement. According to some statistics, 65% of America identifies itself as Christian, though how religious they are is hard to say. I know that the number of Pagans in America is probably less than that of the Jews, and I doubt we wield as much political and economic power that they do. If our ways are to survive their rebirth, we have to change this. We have to get the kind of power that will allow us to not only share our ways, but protect us should the worst happen again. It is easy to push my words aside as paranoid drivel, but that would be a terrible thing to do. Even as I type, Christians speak of the need to remove the “devil worshipers” in order to shave their country. In the Islamic countries, people who practice the magic arts are still tried and killed. The world, despite its troubles, seems mostly safe to us, but it wouldn’t take much to change that. It never has in the past.

The Wiccan's have the belief of “Do what thou wilt, but harm none.” This is a noble attitude, and it has served well in this initial time of relative peace. But the times are changing, and we may soon have need of a more Heathen attitude of “Do what thou wild, so that none harm your kin.”

The Norse Alchemist.